State Police: Sharia Council Demands Wider Consultations Before Implementation

The Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN) has cautioned the Federal Government and the National Assembly against rushing constitutional amendments to establish state police, calling for extensive national consultations before any final decision is made.

In a statement issued by its Secretary-General, Nafiu Ahmad, the council acknowledged the severity of the country’s security challenges but emphasized that decentralizing policing should not be viewed as an immediate cure-all.

The SCSN noted that the core issues within Nigeria’s security framework stem from underfunding, corruption, inadequate welfare, equipment shortages, and poor inter-agency coordination. The council advocated for the immediate strengthening of existing security bodies through increased funding, modern technology, and improved intelligence gathering, arguing that simply transferring policing authority to state governments would not resolve these underlying structural problems.

Raising concerns over the legislative speed of the proposed constitutional changes, the council called for transparent public hearings, independent oversight mechanisms, and robust legal safeguards to prevent state police from being misused for political intimidation or discrimination.

The council urged President Bola Tinubu, National Assembly leaders, and state governors to halt proceedings until nationwide consultations are concluded and key stakeholder concerns are addressed to protect national unity and democratic standards.